WWE Commentator Kevin Patrick Is Being Removed From SmackDown
Highlights
- Kevin Patrick's tenure as the lead Raw commentator didn't sit well with fans, leading to his eventual move to SmackDown.
- His departure from WWE's commentary table has been confirmed, and no replacement has been announced yet.
- Speculation on potential replacements includes Michael Cole, who has garnered renewed fan appreciation, and Vic Joseph, who has excelled in his role as the voice of NXT.
When Kevin Patrick joined WWE in March 2021, hopes were high for the Irishman. He had been successful covering sports for years at places like the Big Ten Network and CNN International, and though he did well as a backstage Raw interviewer, opinions changed when he became the lead Raw commentator. Fans didn't take to his style alongside Corey Graves. Toward the end of 2023, he was put on SmackDown. Michael Cole was there too, seemingly to teach Patrick, before Cole went solely back to Raw, leaving Patrick on his own as the lead commentator on Friday nights. That didn't last long, as now Kevin Patrick is out.
Aaron Varble of SEScoops reported that Kevin Patrick is being taken off the commentary table, but so far, no replacement has been announced. A source told Varble that "it just wasn't working out." Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer confirmed the report. Meltzer said:
“Kevin Patrick’s gone. Unless something changes. I don’t know details, I don’t know who’s gonna be replacing him. I’m not surprised. Like I said, I’m not surprised. Corey Graves has been totally carrying the SmackDown announcing. I don’t know who they’ll bring in, could be Vic Joseph. Nick Khan likes to hire sports people, but the problem is, announcing sports and announcing wrestling are very different. Jimmy Smith did a good job, but that’s because he announced real fights and tried to announce wrestling in a real fight way.” (h/t WrestleTalk)
5 Retired WWE Wrestlers Who Would Be Great On Commentary (& 5 Who Wouldn't)
While some former wrestlers would be a fantastic addition to WWE's commentary team, others wouldn't be good for the role at all.Who Will Replace Kevin Patrick On WWE SmackDown?
Kevin Patrick seems like a good guy, and he was great at backstage interviews, but he just didn't have "it" when it came to commentary. Now the question becomes, who will replace Patrick on SmackDown? The most obvious answer, at least for now, is Michael Cole. He has long been the voice of WWE, having been with the company since the 1990s. While fans used to hate his commentary, he is beloved now. Pat McAfee gave him renewed energy, and now, without Vince McMahon screaming in his ear every week, he's relaxed and gotten even better.
WWE has let a lot of commentators go the past few years. Mauro Ranallo, a fan favorite and former voice of NXT and SmackDown, left. Tom Phillips was good, but WWE let him go, and he now works for TNA. Jimmy Smith was the voice of Raw briefly. Then there's Vic Joseph. He, too, was briefly the lead commentator for Raw, but now, as the voice of NXT alongside Booker T, he has become great in his role. Could it be his time to be promoted again? He is certainly ready. Whoever gets the job, let's hope that it's an in-house hire who knows wrestling. Bringing in outsiders from the sports world who have no wrestling experience hasn't worked.
